Golf might not include sprinting, jumping or back and forth fast-paced action, but that doesn’t mean you won’t get any benefits from it. In fact, golf offers a wide variety of benefits from physical to mental. With golf, players can receive benefits that are equal to or even surpass other activities. From reducing stress and anxiety to managing weight loss, golf has a lot to offer. So, how can you benefit from a round of golf at The Biltmore this week?
1. Let’s Get Physical
One of the many benefits of participating in sports, specifically golf, is the increase in your heart rate and blood flow. Walking, carrying your bag, or swinging your club will increase your heart rate and lead to a healthier heart. Combine this with a healthy diet and your risk of stroke and diabetes could be reduced.
Did we also mention weight loss? That’s right! Golf is a great way to improve your physical fitness. To lose weight, you need to reach about 10,000 steps a day. With an 18-hole round of golf, you will walk about 5 to 6 miles, which will help you burn 1,000 to 2,000 calories, depending on the course.
If walking isn’t on your agenda, that’s okay. Swinging a golf club is considered a full-body workout. The swinging and bending motions will have you feeling a little sore afterward. You will be working your arms, legs, and core all at once.
2. Stress Be Gone
An 18-hole round of golf is a long mental exercise in which you are constantly thinking about your next move while focusing on the current hole. However, surrounding yourself with nature, along with getting fresh air and exercise, does wonders for your wellbeing. The pleasure of walking the greens, mixed with a slight mental challenge from the game itself, will release endorphins that will help you feel happy and relaxed. These endorphins will also help reduce your anxiety and boost your confidence.
Golf keeps your mind alert and sharp while providing other mental health benefits. You will be surprised what a nice, calm walk in the fresh air can do for your mind. Letting your mind escape the hassles of day-to-day living can significantly reduce your stress and anxiety.
3. Healthy Body
Golf is a sport of strategy, coordination, and accuracy. However, there is some physical activity involved with all the walking, swinging, and pivoting, but for the most part, it is a leisure sport. The luxury of this leisure sport, compared to others, is that your risk for injury is much lower due to the fact it is a non-contact sport. There’s no fear of getting tackled, and the odds of you getting hit with the ball are low. So, you won’t have to worry about stress and damages to your joints and muscles.
This is what makes golf so great. You get to keep your body and muscles engaged and active, without the fear of getting hurt. Another plus is that you will be able to play golf as your age progresses without the concern of injury. Golf was truly made for all age groups.
4. Time For Bed
Fresh hair and the warm sun combined with exercise sounds like the perfect recipe for a good night’s sleep. Due to the amount of energy you will use throughout your golf round, your body will fall asleep faster and keep you in a deep sleep. Deep sleep is a necessity for your body to regenerate cells and repair muscle and tissues. Getting a good night’s rest will also help ease your mind and reduce stress.
5. Riding Solo
Golf is a great way to get out and be social — while keeping your social distance. You can keep in touch with friends, meet new people on the course and connect with your community. However, golf is also the perfect sport to get some well-needed alone time.
Golf requires intense concentration to be played to one’s best ability. Playing golf alone gives you that, plus much more. You get the opportunity to focus on what you are doing, without the thought of others watching your every move and waiting for you. When playing golf alone, you can take your time and really focus and work on your golf game. You can also focus on every single shot, and try new clubs and techniques to figure out what works for you.
Outside of the game, playing golf alone gives you the opportunity to enjoy nature and to relax your mind and thoughts. With the rush of every-day life, having a few hours to yourself to just relax and worry about nothing will benefit your well-being and calm your anxiety. Enjoying a few hours to yourself, without someone there watching your every move or rushing you, sounds like the perfect way to pass time.